NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The balance of power in New York
basketball clearly has shifted across the Hudson River.

The playoff-bound New Jersey Nets completed their first season
series sweep of the lottery-bound New York Knicks in 17 years
with a 99-94 victory in the regular-season finale.

"When I came in here, I set a mission and it got completed
tonight," said Nets guard Jason Kidd, an NBA MVP candidate.
"We're the best team in the area and we showed it this season
and I hope we can keep the tradition of showing the city who's
the best team."

"I've been here through the ups and down with the Nets, and it
feels good to be the best team in the area," guard Kerry Kittles
said.

Anthony Johnson and rookie Brandon Armstrong scored 13 points
apiece for the Nets (52-30), who are headed to the playoffs for
the first time in four years as the top seed in the Eastern
Conference. They will face Indiana in the first round beginning
this weekend.

Despite resting most of its regulars, New Jersey still was too
much for New York (30-52), which has dominated New York-area
basketball for a generation but will miss the postseason for the
first time since 1987.

Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn also scored 13 points each for
the Nets, who won all four games from the Knicks to sweep the
series for the first time since the 1984-85 season. After that
season, New York went on to win the draft lottery and selected
Patrick Ewing.

"I'm very happy for this team tonight," Nets coach Byron Scott
said. "They came and did what they wanted to do, which was to
sweep the Knicks."

"We weren't going to let this one slip away because you never
know when you're going to be able to sweep the Knicks again,"
forward Keith Van Horn added.

Allan Houston scored 32 points and Kurt Thomas added 20 and 15
rebounds for the Knicks, who ended the season with six losses in
seven games. They went 20-43 under coach Don Chaney, who
replaced Jeff Van Gundy in December.

Latrell Sprewell scored eight points in 34 minutes in what could
have been his last game with the Knicks. Sprewell was fined
one game's pay -- approximately $125,000 -- for missing a
shootaround Sunday in Miami. He intends to contest the fine
through the Players Association.

Perhaps the Knicks' best all-around player, Sprewell arrived in
New York in 1999 amid a swirl of controversy. Acquired in a
trade while suspended for choking his coach in Golden State, the
swingman could be departing under similar circumstances. He
has called for the team to improve itself, but that may be hard
to do given salary cap restrictions.

"I can't speculate on coming back, and I want to come back, but
you know this is a business, and management will take care of
it," Sprewell said. "I know management will work 100 percent on
getting this team better this year because playing in New York,
you always have to perform.

"I will miss this place if I don't come back. I like playing
here, but I hope I do come back."

The Knicks once again blew a double-digit lead, giving away an
11-point advantage. Johnson scored seven straight points for
New Jersey before a layup by rookie Richard Jefferson gave the
Nets the lead for good at 77-76 with 9:38 remaining.

A 3-pointer by Houston pulled New York within 96-94 with 55
seconds left, but Brian Scalabrine found fellow rookie Jason
Collins for a dunk 10 seconds later. After a turnover by the
Knicks, Scalabrine made 1-of-2 free throws with 20 seconds
remaining to seal it.

Collins scored 12 points and Kidd added 11 for the Nets, who
shot 43 percent (35-of-82) from the field and committed just 10
turnovers.

"We came in and did what we wanted to do, which was to win and
sweep the Knicks," Nets forward Kenyon Martin said. "This goes
to show the people of the area who the top team is."

Mark Jackson scored 11 points and Clarence Weatherspoon grabbed
17 rebounds for the Knicks, who shot 44 percent (38-of-86) and
held a 51-38 edge on the glass but had 20 turnovers.